CHARLES BRADLEY wholly embodies soul music—the 67-year-old singer, affectionately nicknamed "The Screaming Eagle of Soul," prides himself on his fervent candor. "I want people to look at me and say, 'Hey, here's an honest guy, he's willing to work hard and give the people the love of his soul,'" he says. Hearing the emotion in Bradley's voice and his flawless rendition of '60s soul and funk, you'd think him a seasoned professional. But Bradley has had an unlikely career—one that began in earnest just a few years ago.
Bradley first imagined himself as a performer more than 50 years before his debut release, when his sister took him to see James Brown. Inspired by Brown's legendary showmanship, Bradley would later become his impersonator, but not before experiencing his share of heartache. "I've been held back many times," Bradley says, "but I didn't give up my honesty, my love, and my compassion. I still kept pushing forward."
After leaving home at 14, Bradley went through homelessness, job loss, and the deaths of his brother and mother. Rather than let these hardships make him cynical, he finds an emotional outlet in performing and genuinely radiates love and positivity. It's that attitude that caught the attention of Daptone Records founder Gabriel Roth. "It took one person to find me and say, 'Okay, this guy is for real.' It was a long time coming," says Bradley.
Changes is Bradley's third album, and his first that many critics feel he takes full ownership of. Bradley's delivery recalls vocal icons like Otis Redding, but his mastery of classic soul and R&B has threatened to limit his range. On Changes, however, Bradley distinguishes himself with a contemporary twist on nostalgia.